THE CABLE
Turkish President Recep Erdoğan has announced a three-month state of emergency in the country to enable rapid search-and-rescue operations.
In a statement on Tuesday, Erdogan said the state of emergency would affect the 10 provinces hit by the earthquakes which occurred on Monday.
The death toll in the earthquakes, which affected Turkey and Syria, now stands at over 6,300.
The Turkish president said the country has recorded 3,549 deaths and 22,168 injured persons.
He added that seven days of mourning had also been declared.
“We declare the 10 provinces hit by earthquakes to be an area of disaster affecting the public life. By the power vested in us by article 119 of the constitution, we have decided to declare state of emergency in order for search and rescue operations and the following efforts to be carried out rapidly,” the statement reads.
“We will quickly complete the presidency and national assembly processes regarding this decision, which is to cover the 10 provinces and remain in effect for a period of three months.”
